Barr Nyesom Wike is a man that loves hugging the daily headlines. There is no activity of his that doesn't appear at the front pages of Nigerian Newspapers. Right from his time as Chief of Staff to the then Governor Rotimi Ameachi, to his time as Minister of Education and now to
his time as the no1 citizen of Rivers state; it has been one controversy to another. On assumption of office, he made headlines when he sent an armed delegation to the home of the erstwhile Commissioner of Information (Mrs Ibim Sementari) to retrieve some official vehicles in her possession, which till date she refutes and denies were government vehicles. This was done in the full glare of the media and it won him lots of applause, praise and criticism depending on whose side you are.
Wike before the elections promised to send the APC government of then Governor Ameachi packing from the state government house and the electorates felt the election was going to be an acid test for him and like the proverbial lion with nine lives; Wike came out on top, fulfilling his earlier promise and wining the election in a landslide victory. He is known as a "Man of the People" by his admirers and a man of courage. It is a clear sign that Wike has the people on side with reports emerging from Rivers State since he assumed office.
What has however become a worry for all is the conduct of Wike in recent weeks. As of the time of filling this report Wike has lost two suits consecutively challenging the appeal of Dr Peterside Dakuku of APC to inspect the Electoral materials and also the ineligibility of Peterside to contest the April governorship election in Rivers state. The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja led by Justice Muazu Pindiga are doing Wike no favours with the rate at which his legal cases are dismissed. To show his desperation or confusion, it was reported in the media that Wike had paid the Chief Justice of Nigeria an unofficial visit severally. This visits were without prior appointment. And one wonders why a sitting governor who has been in public service for more than 10 years will visit the office of such a high ranking officer (CJN) without appointment. While there is absolutely no question concerning the integrity of the CJN, one wonders why Wike has made a sudden deviation from his media frenzy "Modus Operandum" to secretly sneaking in and out of the office of the CJN trying to keep it hidden. Why did the press obsessed governor not go with them and keep mute until it was disclosed by the officials of the CJN, that he was now practically living in Abuja as a result of his frequent visits to their boss.
This is now more than coincidence because Wike Visited the CJN, the same day the Election Petition Tribunal struck out his appeal on the eligibility of Dr Peterside Dakuku contesting the last governorship election. Did Wike visit the CJN in order to register his dissatisfaction and complaint on the judgement of the Tribunal or did he visit him to reach a compromise? These are still insinuations at the infancy stage but it could have been fuelled by the way Wike is losing the battle against his stolen mandate( as the APC will say) as Rivers State governor. While Wike continues to deny the rumour that his visit was connected to the Election Petition, he insists it was rather related to the approval and tenure elongated of the acting Chief Justice of Rivers State by the National Judicial Council. There is no reason to doubt Wike but the manner of his political restlessness is disturbing and alarming to say the least. There are many questions waiting for answers which only Wike can give but as of now the situation could only get more interesting as it keeps unfolding. Nigerians are watching with keen interest and pray Justice is served.
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